Tissue dispenser

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for dispensing tissues that attaches to a substantially flat surface at a predetermined location. The apparatus includes an encasement to store and dispense the tissues. The encasement has a predetermined shape and an opening in a top portion thereof to dispense the tissues therefrom. The apparatus also includes a fastening portion connected to the encasement to attach the encasement to the substantially flat surface at the predetermined location.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/626,348 filed on Nov. 9,2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to tissue dispensers and,more particularly, the invention relates to an attachable tissuedispensing apparatus capable of fastening to almost any flat surfacesuch as a wall or door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tissues and tissue dispensers have been in existence for many years.However, conventional tissue dispensers are limited in where they can beplaced for use depending on cabinet, countertop, or desktop spaceavailable. This space is usually even more limited in public restroomswhere having a tissue to use to grab a door handle or lever that mayhave infectious germs thereon would be convenient.

A need exists for people concerned about germs when they must use publicrestrooms to be able to have access to a tissue when having to open orclose a door. Also, people need an alternative to conventional tissuedispensers that take up valuable cabinet, countertop, or desktop space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention provides a disposable apparatus fordispensing tissues that is attachable to a substantially flat surface ata predetermined location. The apparatus includes a dispenser means wherethe tissues are stored and dispensed from. The dispenser means has apredetermined shape and an opening in a top wall portion thereof fordispensing the tissues therefrom. The apparatus also includes anattachment means which is connected to a predetermined wall portion ofthe dispenser means to attach the dispenser means to the substantiallyflat surface at the predetermined location.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a reusable apparatusfor encasing a tissue dispenser and that attaches the tissue dispenserto a substantially flat surface at a predetermined location. Theapparatus includes an encasement means for containing the tissuedispenser therein. The encasement means has a first opening in a topwall portion thereof sufficient to dispense tissues through and a secondopening in a first predetermined wall portion thereof sufficient to fitthe tissue dispenser therethrough. The apparatus further includes anattachment means connected to a second predetermined wall portion of theencasement means to attach the encasement means to the substantiallyflat surface at the predetermined location.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention toprovide a tissue dispenser that may attach to a wall or door of a publicrestroom such that a person may have access to a tissue when grabbing adoor handle with possible infectious germs thereon.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tissue dispenserthat may attach to almost any substantially flat surface such as a wall,a door, or even the side or bottom of a desk to save on valuablecounter, countertop, or desktop space.

In addition to the above described objects and advantages of the presentinvention, various other objects and advantages of the attachable tissuedispenser will become more readily apparent to those persons skilled insuch art from the more detailed description, particularly, when suchdescription is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figuresand with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art disposable tissue dispenser;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a disposable tissue dispensing apparatusaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an attachable container for enclosing aconventional tissue box according to another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an attachable container for enclosing aconventional tissue box, as illustrated in FIG. 3, showing theattachment means of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVEEMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the invention,it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components,having identical functions have been identified with identical referencenumerals throughout the several drawing figures.

Referring now, more particularly, to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings,there is illustrated a disposable apparatus, generally designated 10,that dispenses tissues 12 and attaches to a substantially flat surfaceat a predetermined location, such as on a wall, on a door, on the sideof or underneath an office desk, etc. The disposable apparatus 10includes a dispenser means, generally designated 20, for storing anddispensing the tissues 12.

The dispenser means 20 has a predetermined shape and an opening 14 in atop wall portion 16 thereof for dispensing the tissues 12 therefrom. Inaddition, an attachment means, generally designated 30, is connected toa predetermined wall portion of the dispenser means 20 so that thedispenser means 20 can be attached to the substantially flat surface atthe predetermined location.

In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the predeterminedshape of the dispenser means 20 is a generally rectangular box made froma paper product.

In another presently preferred embodiment, the attachment means 30includes an adhesive to attach the dispenser means 20 to thesubstantially flat surface at the predetermined location. Preferably,the adhesive used is double sided adhesive tape 18.

In yet another presently preferred embodiment, the predetermined wallportion of the dispenser means 20 having the attachment means 30connected thereto is at least one of a bottom wall portion 22 and a sidewall portion 24.

Referring now, more particularly, to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings,there is illustrated a reusable apparatus, generally designated 40, forencasing a tissue dispenser, generally designated 26 in FIG. 3, andattaching the tissue dispenser 26 to a substantially flat surface at apredetermined location. The reusable apparatus 40 includes an encasementmeans, generally designated 50, that encases the tissue dispenser 26therein.

The encasement means 50 has a first opening 28 in a top wall portion 32thereof sufficient to dispense tissues through and a second opening 34in a first predetermined wall portion thereof sufficient to fit thetissue dispenser 26 therethrough.

The reusable apparatus 40 further includes an attachment means 30connected to a second predetermined wall portion of the encasement means50 for attaching the encasement means 50 to the substantially flatsurface at the predetermined location.

The preferred shape of the tissue dispenser 26 is a generallyrectangular box that is made from paper. Also, the preferred shape ofthe encasement means 50 is a generally rectangular box that is made fromone of plastic and metal.

In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the attachmentmeans 30 connected to the encasement means 50 to attach the encasementmeans 50 to the substantially flat surface at the predetermined locationincludes an adhesive. It is also preferred that the adhesive is doublesided adhesive tape 18.

Such first predetermined wall portion of the encasement means 50 havingthe second opening 34 therein sufficient to fit said tissue dispenser 26therethrough is one of an end wall portion and a side wall portion.

In another presently preferred embodiment, the second predetermined wallportion of the encasement means 50 having the attachment means 30connected thereto is at least one of a bottom wall portion 36 and a sidewall portion 38.

While the presently preferred embodiments of the invention have beendiscussed in considerable detail above, it should be obvious to thosepersons who are skilled in the art that various modifications andadaptations of the present invention can be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

1. A disposable apparatus for dispensing tissues and attaching to asubstantially flat surface at a predetermined location, said apparatuscomprising: (a) a dispenser means for storing and dispensing saidtissues, said dispenser means having a predetermined shape and anopening in a top wall portion thereof for dispensing said predeterminedamount of tissues therefrom; and (b) an attachment means connected to apredetermined wall portion of said dispenser means for attaching saiddispenser means to said substantially flat surface at said predeterminedlocation.
 2. A disposable apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein saidpredetermined shape of said dispenser means is a generally rectangularbox.
 3. A disposable apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein saidgenerally rectangular box is made from paper.
 4. A disposable apparatus,according to claim 1, wherein said attachment means connected to saiddispenser means for attaching said dispenser means to said substantiallyflat surface at said predetermined location includes an adhesive.
 5. Adisposable apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein said adhesive isdouble sided adhesive tape.
 6. A disposable apparatus, according toclaim 1, wherein said predetermined wall portion of said dispenser meanshaving said attachment means connected thereto is a bottom wall portion.7. A disposable apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein saidpredetermined wall portion of said dispenser means having saidattachment means connected thereto is a side wall portion.
 8. A reusableapparatus for encasing a tissue dispenser and attaching said tissuedispenser to a substantially flat surface at a predetermined location,said apparatus comprising: (a) an encasement means for encasing saidtissue dispenser therein, said encasement means having a first openingin a top wall portion thereof sufficient to dispense tissues through anda second opening in a first predetermined wall portion thereofsufficient to fit said tissue dispenser therethrough; and (b) anattachment means connected to a second predetermined wall portion ofsaid encasement means for attaching said encasement means to saidsubstantially flat surface at said predetermined location.
 9. A reusableapparatus, according to claim 8, wherein said tissue dispenser is agenerally rectangular box.
 10. A reusable apparatus, according to claim9, wherein said generally rectangular box is made from paper.
 11. Areusable apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein said encasement meansis a generally rectangular box.
 12. A reusable apparatus, according toclaim 11, wherein said generally rectangular box is made from one ofplastic and metal.
 13. A reusable apparatus, according to claim 8,wherein said attachment means connected to said encasement means forattaching said encasement means to said substantially flat surface atsaid predetermined location includes an adhesive.
 14. A reusableapparatus, according to claim 13, wherein said adhesive is double sidedadhesive tape.
 15. A reusable apparatus, according to claim 8, whereinsaid first predetermined wall portion of said encasement means havingsaid second opening therein sufficient to fit said tissue dispensertherethrough is an end wall portion.
 16. A reusable apparatus, accordingto claim 8, wherein said first predetermined wall portion of saidencasement means having said second opening therein sufficient to fitsaid tissue dispenser therethrough is a side wall portion.
 17. Areusable apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein said secondpredetermined wall portion of said encasement means having saidattachment means connected thereto is a bottom wall portion.
 18. Areusable apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein said secondpredetermined wall portion of said encasement means having saidattachment means connected thereto is a side wall portion.